Car coupler



July 31, 1934. w. JQ REGAN 1,968,706

CAR coUPLER 4 Filed July 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 31, 1934 UNI-'reo STATES PATENT. OFFICE CAR COUPLER William J. Regan, Wilkinsburg,` Pa., assignor to The ll/IcCernvay` & Torley Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania r r Application July 24, `1929, serial No.` 380,694

12 Claims. (Cl. 213-69) This invention relates to car couplers of the radial type comprising a shank member which is associated with a bearing block that is adapted to have full bearing contact with the forward follower of a draft gear in all buiiing positions theshankmember may assume in service.

l 'In mounting car couplers uponrailway cars it is the regular practice to allow sufficient clearancebetween the top of the coupler shank and fr@ the lower portion of the striking plate above the coupler shank to permit the coupler to lift when passing over a break in the grade of the vtrack. Where the coupler is connected to the draft yoke ordraft links by means of a transversely extendflt? ing horizontal key, this capability of vertical movement of the coupler shank results in causing the head of the coupler to droop, because t0 facilitate the assembling of the coupler upon the car the key slots, both in the coupler shank and 2o in the car sills, must be of a height greater than the thickness of the body of the draft key. This drooping is due to the weight of the fitted coupler head and the front portion of the coupler shank exceeding the weight of the portion of the shank '215i thatcis tothe rear of the coupler carrier upon which the coupler rests, and its extent is governed by the amount and location of the clearance. As the slots, the key and the carrier wear or thecarrier supports become loose, the initial 3o: drooping of the head increases, with the result that the engagement between the rear end of the coupler shank and the forward follower or draft gear :is reducedto `a line contact in hurling. In couplers of the swivel butt type `this line contact 35,-in'b`uffing may occur between the coupler shank and thebutt end member that is interposed between'said shank and the forwardfollower or draftgear. Where the bearings or contact surfaces between the coupler shank member and 40the Swivel butt are of short vertical dimensions,.

aswhenthe connection between these two parts is in quadruple shear, this existing condition is not so plainlyobservable, `butfwhere thebearing between these `meinbersis a single face equal-` ling the full'height ofthe coupler shank, it is very i noticeable.

`The principal object of the present inventionv is to provide a iointedcoupler which may be connected to a draftv yoke through the instruv mentality of a key and which is adapted to have full bearing Contact in bufling with the forward follower ofv adraftgear not only when the coupler shank member swings horizontally, but also when it angles vertically. Aprmary feature of the invention consists in ,ci- 6, Fig. 4.

constructing a car coupler with a shank memberv and a bearing block which are movably connected, the rear end of the shank member and the co operating forward face of the bearing block being curved topermit the shank member to have vertical and horizontal angling movements with respect to the block.

A further feature of the invention consists in forming the rear wall of the coupler shank member as a vertically and horizontally curved surface and in fashioning the shank member with an interior surface which is also curved both vertically and` horizontally, a bearing block having a forward face which is curved to co-operate with the rear face of the shank member, being movably connected to the latter,` and the said shank member being slotted to receive a coupler connecting key and key seat', the latter being provided with a vertically and horizontally curved surface for co-operating with the correspondingly curved interior surface of the shank member.

There are other features of the invention residing in particular relations andforms of parts, all as will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims. 80

Inthe drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing a car coupler embodying the invention employed in conjunction with a standard draftyoke.

Figure 2 is a View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing a car coupler embodying the invention associated withdraft gear attachments of the Farlow type.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the coupler, portions being 'shown in horizontal central section and the'coupler head being omitted. f

Figure -4 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central sectionof the portion of the coupler shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear end elevation of the coupler, a portion of the bearing block being broken away.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on the lline Figure 7 isa detail horizontal sectional of the rear portion of the coupler shank member.

Figure Sis a detail vertical section `of the rear portion of the coupler shank member.

The jointed `coupler involves a shankV member 1, a bearing block 2 and a key seat member 3. Although not shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the shank member, asusual, is provided at its forward end with a head carrying a pivoted knuckle and suitable locking mechanism therefor.

At its rear end the shank member 1 is fashioned with a spherically curved bearing surface 4 which contacts the correspondingly curved forward surface 5 of the bearing block 2, the rear face 6 of the latter being flat or plane so as to have extended contact with the adjacent follower or draft gear. The followers '7 and 8 respectively, shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, are of well known types, the latter being designed for use with draft links 9 forming part of Farlow draft attachments now in general use. For receiving the forwardly projecting stud 10 with which followers of the Farlow type are provided, the bearing block member 2 is formed with a central aperture 11; and toy afford clearance for the stud permitting the coupler shank member l to swing both vertically and horizontally withl respect to the bearing block 2, the rear end of the shank member is fashioned with a central opening 12 of generally conical form which converges toward the forward end of the coupler. The upper and lower portions of the openings l2 communicate vertically with the recesses 13 adapted to receive the arms or bars 14 of a loop member l5 by which the bearing block 2 is retained in assembled relation to the shank member.

In advance of its curved bufng face 4, the rear wall of the coupler shank member is provided with a bearing surface 16 which is horizontally and vertically curved for co-operation with the correspondingly curved rear surface 17 of the key seat member 3, the several co-operating bearing surfaces being concentric spherical segments.

The forward side of the key seat member is'channeled, as at 18, to conform to the rear edge of the usual transversely extending key 19 by which the coupler is connected to the draft yoke 20 or to the draft links 9 `of the Farlow type. The curved rear face of the key seat is provided with a centrally disposed recess 21 to accommodate the forward end of the stud 10 when the coupler is associated with a follower provided with such :ai a stud.

t angles vertically. To provide clearance for the key 19 when the coupler swings in a vertical direction, the upper and lower walls of the key receiving portion of the slot 22 are beveled or inclined, as indicated at 24 and 25 respectively, to form fulcrums or pivot bearings26 enabling the shank member to rock upon the coupler connecting key 19. To provide clearanceY for the key seat 3 when the coupler shank member 1 executes a horizontal swinging movement, the walls of a the key slot are bounded at their rear ends by inclined shoulders 27 which diverge outwardly in a forward direction toward the sides ofthe coupler shank.

Instead of making the loop 15 integral with the butt or bea-ring block member 2, it is preferred to form the loop from commercial bar stock, as such a construction permits the bearing block to be made asa drop forging, which is an advantage in that it thus is well able to stand the great shocks of buiing while being of comparative'- ly thin section. The loop may be conveniently connected to the bearing block by being provided at its rear end with lugs or shoulders 28 which fit into corresponding shouldered recesses 29 with which the block 2 is fashioned. The intermediate portions 30 of the loop between which the key seat member 3 extends, have a greater over-all dimension than the recess in the bearing block member 2 for receiving the rear end of the loop. It thus is necessary either to spring the loop so as to permit its intermediate section to pass through the opening in the bearing block or to form the loop initially so that its rear end will pass through the opening in the block 2 and then separate the rear ends of the arms 14 until the lugs 28 thereof are in proper assembled position. In advance of the key seat 3 the arms 14 of the loop member 15 are bent to form shoulders 31 which vertically overlap the key seat above and below the key receiving channel 18 in the forward face thereof. By thus co-operating with the'loop, the key seat 3 serves to retain the bearing block member 2 in assembled relation to the coupler shank. As shown in Figure 3 the faces of the shoulders 31 opposed to the key seat member 3 are curved horizontally, thus practically eliminating the clearance between said shoulders and the key seat while permitting the latter toy be assembled with or disassembled from the coupler shank l.

As the coupler shank member 1 is adapted t0 angle both horizontally and vertically withv respect to the bearing block 2 it is suitably recessed' on its interior, as indicated at 32 to provide clearance for the loop member 15, the side walls 33 and 34 respectively of the recess being inclined or bevelled in opposite directions to form' fulcrums 35 upon which the respective arms'14'y of the loop may rock when the coupler swings horizontally in either direction from a central position. To provide similar bearings or fulcrums 36 upon which the loop member 15 may rock when the coupler shank member 1 angles vertically, the top and bottom walls vare also inclined in opposite directions in advance of the key seat member 3, as indicated at 37 and 38. The fulcrums 26 for the coupler connecting keyA 19 are preferably located in vertical alinement with the center of curvature of the curved faces 4 and 16 of the coupler shank. Clearance for the key when the shank member angles vertically is provided by the bevelled portions 24 andA 25 of the upper and lower walls of the key slot, while the necessary clearance between the shank member and the key to permit the shank member to swing horizontally is afforded by bevelling the outer end of the key slot from the centerl forwardly toward the sides of the slot as indicated" In assembling the device the loop member 15 is inserted through the opening in the rear end of the' coupler shank member and the bearing'block 2 is connected thereto in the manner heretoforeA described, after which the key seat member 3-is inserted through the enlarged portion 23 of the key slot. The coupler may then be connectedto' proper operative relation to the coupler shankr member 1.

I claim: v v 1. A: car coupler adaptedfor attachment toa iis '1'5"2'jgage the follower of a draft gear and having a draft yokev or the like,I said coupler-involving a shank member having. a rearV end wall `and a transversely extending slot i in advance thereof, said-.rear wall having avertically and-horizontally curved rear surfaceand a` vertically and horizontally curved forwardsurfacaa keyV seat member having a curved rear face corresponding to andengaging said` forward surface, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and` havinga vertically and horizontally curved forward surface for cooperating `with said curved rear surface of the shank` member and means` within said shank member forwardly of said bearing block supporting the bearing block on the shank member, said `means including said key seat member. l y y `2. A car coupler 'involving Va shank `member. having a spherically curved rear' endand a spherically curved interior surface inadvance there of and'` formed with a transversely extending slot, a'ky seat member having a spherically curved rear face, corresponding to and engaging said interior surface of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to engage the'follower of a draft gear and `having its forward face spherically curved for cooperating with the spherically curved rear end of the shank member, and means ex-` tending forwardly from said bearing block into theshank memberfor connecting the bearing block tothe shank member. I

3, A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a sphericallycurved exterior surface and having a spherically curved interior `surface in advance thereof, said shank member being transversely slottedA and being formedl with al rearwardlyopening recess communicating with said slot, a bearing block adapt ed to engage the follower` of a draft gear and having a sphericallyr curved forward face for` co operating `with-thecurved exterior surface of the shank member, a key seat member positioned in said slot and having a spherically curved rear face for cooperating with the curved interior surface of the shank member, and a loop member connecting said bearing block and extending through said recess, said loop member having spaced arms which overlap the key seat member.

4. A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a spherically curved exf terior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for cooperating with said exterior surface of the shank member, a key seat member having a spherically curved rear face for cooperating with said spherically curved interior surface of the shank member, and a loop member for connecting the bearing block to the shank Amember, said loop member having spaced arms between which the key seat member extends, and said loop and key seat member having shouldered engagement for limiting rearward movement of said loop member with respect to the shank member when the parts are in assembled relation.

5. A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a spherically curved exterior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface and provided with a transversely extending slot adapted to receive a coupler connecting key, a key seat member having a spherically curved rear face for cooperating with the curved interior surface of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to enspherically curved'forward face for cooperating with said exterior surface of the shank member, and a loop member for retaining the bearing block in assembled relation to the shank member, said loop member having portions extending on opposite sides of the key seat member and having portions in advance of the key seat member between which said coupler connecting key is adapted to be interposed.

6. A car coupler involving a shank member provided `at its rear end with a spherically curved exterior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface and having a transversely extending slot, a key seat member positioned in said slot and having a spherically curved rear face cooperating with said interior surface of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for vcooperating with said exterior surface of the shankmember, and a loop member connected to the bearing block and having spaced arms which overlap said key seat member, said shank member being provided on its interior with fulcrums for cooperating with said loop member to permit relative vertical and horizontal rocking movements of the shank member and the loop member.

'1. A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a spherically curved exterior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface and formed with a transversely extending slot adapted to receive a coupler connecting key, the opposite walls of said slot being provided with fulcrums adapted to cooperate with said key to permit the shank member to angle vertically with respect to said key, a key seat member having a spherically curved rear face engaging the said interior surface of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for cooperating with said exterior surface of the shank member, and a loop member for connecting the bearing block member to the shank member, said loop member being provided with Aarms between which the key seat member is received, and said arms being spaced to receive said key between them.

8. A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a spherically curved exterior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface and having a transversely extending slot adapted to receive a coupler connecting key and a key seat member for said key, said shank member also being formed with a rearwardly opening recess communicating with said slot, a key seat member having a spherically curved rear face for cooperating with said interior surface of the shank member, a bearing block member adapted to. en gage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for cooperating with said exterior surface of the shank member, and a loop member for retaining the bearing block in assembled relation to the shank member, said loop member having spaced arms extending into said recess and embracing said key seat member and extending forwardly of said key seat member to provide between them an opening for receiving the coupler connecting key, said shank member and loop member being adapted to have relative rocking movement vertically and horizontally.

9. A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a spherically curved exterior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface and having a transversely extending slot adapted to receive a coupler connecting key, a key seat member having a spherieally curved rear face corresponding to and engaging said interior face of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for cooperating with said exterior surface of the shank member, and a loop member for connecting the bearing lock member to the shank member, said loop member being adapted to receive said key and being closed at its forward end and having arms overlapping the key seat member, and the shank member being recessed on its interior to receive the loop member, the walls of said recess being inclined to provide fulcrums permitting relative rocking movement of the shank member and the loop member vertically and horizontally.

l0, A car coupler involving a shank member provided at its rear end with a spherically curved exterior surface and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface and being formed with a transversely extending slot adapted to receive a coupler connecting key, a key seat member having a spherieally curved rear face cooperating with said interior surface of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for cooperating with said exterior surface of the shank member, and a loop member formed with spaced arms having shouldered engagement with the bearing block and overlapping said key seat member, said loop member extending in advance of the key seat member and being adapted to receive and pass around the forward edge of said coupler connecting key.

l1. The combination with a horizontally extending ke'y for connecting a car' coupler to a yoke or the links of a draftrigging, of a car coupler involving a shank member formed with a slot for receiving said key, said shank member having a spherically curved exterior surface at its rear end and having in advance of said surface a spherically curved interior surface, a key seat member extending into said slot and having a spherically curved rear face engaging said interior face of the shank member, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward face for cooperating with said y exterior surface of the shank member, and means for retaining said bearing block in assembled relation to the 'shank member, said ymeans cooperating with said keyt limit vertical movement lof said bearing block with respect to said follower, and said shank member being recessed to Areceive said means and to permit the shank member to angle vertically and horizontally with respect thereto.l v l 12. A car coupler adapted for attachment to a draft yoke or the like, said coupler involving a shank having a rear'end wall and a transversely extending slot in advance thereof, said rear wall having a spherically curved rear surface and a curved forward surface, a key seat member having a curved rear face corresponding to and engaging said forward surface, a bearing block adapted to engage the follower of a draft gear and having a spherically curved forward surface for cooperating with said curved rear surface of the rear wall of the shank member, the curved forward surface of said rearwall being adapted to permit said key seat member to angle horizon'- tally with respect to said shank, and means engaging and extending` rearwardly from the key seat member forI connecting the bearing block member to said key seat member,

WILLIAM J. REGAN. 

